Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-04
a NEW PARTY.
Proceedings of the Union Labor Party

Convention.
The industrial labor conference called
by the meeting held in indianapolis last
September met in Cincinnati the last
week in February. The convention was
called to order by b. L. Heath of Chicago
chairman OF the executive committee.
Mr.. Richard Trevelick of Michigan was
chosen temporary chairman, and in as.
Stunning tho chair counseled courtesy,
good will and good business methods. He
then said that he was in doubt concerning
the propriety of accepting this honor, but
al the last moment felt ii his duty TO obey
the wishes of the delegates. He wanted
to say that he was with them in obedience
To law, but not to defy the law.
A permanent organization was effected
10y the election Of A. j. Streator OF Illinois
for president; for vice -president, Richard
+. Trevelick OF Michigan,and long list OF
additional; vice presldents; secretary, NJ
ID. Shaw OF Missouri; assistant secretary,
w. ID. L. Bliss of Massachusetts; reading
clerk George Ii. Lennon OF New York.
Mr.. Streator briefly addressed the con
vention. He said the object Of the conven-
ton was 10 organize party for the com
mon good of the whole people, TO guard
the weak against the strong. He wished
II understood that this party was not the
party Of anarchy. Though II was fact
tnut Anarchists were not mucn neaTu OF
until there was an undue number OF mil
lionaires. Now IL was the duty Of this new
party 10 guard equally against the eXac-
tions of the one class and the robberies OF
the other His address was devoted largely
TO advise in regard 10 the things to be
avoided in making the platform and
against the blanishments of politicians
after the party has been organized and
started into public notice.
After considerable routine work had
l. A Il =
Michigan, addressed the convention. She
began by saving that If the words OF Jas.
e.. Blaine, spoken in Pennsylvania last
September, were true, there was no cause
for this convention. lie said that the work
ingman had prosperity behind him and
prosperity before him But she said,
the words OF Gen. Logan contradicted In
a manner Mr.. Blaine. when, in excusing
himself for not speaking his workingmen'
speech any longer, he said The people do
not elect senators and presidents, and.
therefore ! must make my speeches 10
those who do. -
Taking this as test. Mrs Todd went on
to say that the workingman, even with
the ballot in his hand, had not been elect
ing the officers OF tins government Tor
years. He had been disfranchl,ed by the
Vaccinations of grasping monOpolies and
by the gross owls of the wage system OF
this country. She pointed out the rem
edv for all this-a perfect union into one
Hitherto factions had split into pieces
every workingman' effort at union. Or
Ganization alone would give him power.
Recurring 10 the evils OF the present
time. she said plunder was now obtained
through special legislation, through the
courts. through officials through militia,
through Pinkertons-"Wh What shall / call
them! she asked Cries OF "Assassins,"
"Murderers. - Numbering thieves etc
Il leave the saying OF the bad words to
the gentleman said the speaker. She
thought Henry George did not 20 far
enough; that he did not see the evil of
the money system. She declared that I'M
der its working "a man may he IA slave on
IA free land Mrs Todd closed with n fer
vent peal for immediate and harmonious
organization She was heard with in
tense qualification and given rousing
vote OF thanks.
Following Mrs Todd Mr. Powers OF In
diana made very able address, in which
he said that the demand OF the working
men was that every soldiers, discharge
should he hi, pension certificate.
The convention selected the following
national executive committee: Alabama,
j. j. Woodal; California, II. T. Davis;
Dakota territory, j. o. Dean: Illinois, j.
g. Clark Indiana Thomas Gruelle Iowa,
". II. Babb; Indian territory, NJ. y. llpv-
in; Kansas. w. ID. Vincent kentuckyt i.
a Wood Maryland, Chas. A Metfie;
Massachusetts. NJ. johnston; Missouri,
j. Nolan; Nebraska. Hall; New Hanp-
shire, Geo. Carpenter; New Jersey. W. ID.
Dubois: New York, j. l. Hoyt; North Car
DINA j. r. Winston. ohio, Charles Jen-
kins: Oregon. T. W Pike; Pennsylvania,
John T. Zane Rhode Island, Holmes w.
Merton: Tennessee, j. X. Mills; Texas,
Capt Sam Evans; West Virginia, j. X.
Thompson Washington Territory, Geo.
y smith.
When the national executive committee
was being selected Col. Winston OF North
Carolina said his delegation and that OF
Mississippi and Arkansas could not name
members unless the convention would rel
egate TO the states the adoption or reJec-
ton OF certain parts Of the platform. His
desire was to make the sections of the
platform relating TO land, transportation,
money, labor, income tax and Chinese la
Dor the national platform and allow the
different states 10 adopt or re iect the 9th
er sections, as they chose His plan was
was adopted by the convention thus re-
leving the southern states from being
committed TO woman suffrage, which they
had fought unsuccessfully hitherto.
The convention elected Thomas NJ.
Gruelle of Indiana chairman of tho ma
tional committee; l. +. Mcdonald OF
Springfield, Ono. secretary, and FRESH
dent Streator OF Illinois treasurer
The executive committee OF the green.
back party met and resolved 10 continue
their organization, but will send an ad-
dress 20 their party advising cooperation
with unionlabor party
\ novel feature oil the convention was
the presence Of the lady delegates. They
took seats among the men of their proper
states. and appeared 10 be entirely at
home in the work.
Following is the platform after alengthy
preamble setting set forth that the name
OF the party shall be the union labor par
ty:h
First-Land: Every human being pos
se,ses "A natural inalienable right 10 sutii-
Cieut land for selt-Supl )rt, and we desire
20 secure 10 every Industrial citizen n
home. a, the highest result Of free institu-
tions. To this end We demand a graduated
lnnd tax on all large estates especially
those held for speculative or tentent pur-
poses. the reclamation II all uncarncd
land grants. the immediate opening Of
Oklahoma % homestead settlement; the
purchase Of all un0rcupied Indian lands.
and the settlement Of tho various tribes
upon lands IN sevcraltv. also laws pre-
venting corporations from acquiring real
estate beyond the 70 qulrements OF their
business. and alien ownership OF land.
The systems ~ irrigation in states and
territories where necessary. shall be under
such public control as hall secure the free
and equitable use OF the waters and fran
chises 60 the people.
Second Tran ,portstion. The means OF
communication and trans gortation should
be owned or controlled 10y the people, As is